Lock guide structure for a railway vehicle coupler

ABSTRACT

A railway vehicle coupler having an improved lock guide structure on the guard arm side of the coupler housing. The guard arm side lock guide includes an inclined surface engaging the chamfered edge of the lock during movement of the lock to the lock position. The inclined surface is located and disposed at an angle to prevent the lock set seat from hanging or seating on the knuckle thrower leg lock seat during movement to the lock position.

States Kauiiholdl 1 1 Nov. 26, 19741 [5 LOCK GUIDE STRUCTURE FOR A1,873,494 8/1932 Service 213/127 x RAILWAY VEHICLE COUPLER 2,948,4148/1960 Metzger 213/146 X 3,698,570 10/1972 Metzger 213/127 X [75]Inventor: Horst Thomas Kaufhold, Chicago,

7 Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr. [73] Assignee: AMSTED IndustriesIncorporated, Assistant Examiner-Gene A. Church Chicago, 111. [22]Filed: Oct. 19, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 408,196 A railwayvehicle coupler having an improved lock guide structure on the guard armside of the coupler housing. The guard arm side lock guide includes an(g1. 213/l4ofi62l13/3 inclined Surface engaging the chamfered edge ofthe I g lock during movement of the lock to the lock position [58] Fieldof Search 213/125, 126, 127, 129,

213/136 146 147 142 143 The inclined surface is located and disposed atan angle to prevent the lock set seat from hanging or [561 ReferencesCited $333361?3311 21321 23??? leg dumg UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,869,7138/1932 Regan 213/127 8 Claims 3 Drawing Figures LOCK GUIDE STRUCTURE FORA RAILWAY VEHICLE COUPLER BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY THE INVENTION Thepresent invention relates to railway vehicle couplers and more.particularly to an improved guiding structure for guiding the lock fromthe unlocked position to lock position during closing of the knuckle.

I-Ieretofore, the lock guiding structure was constructed such that undercertain conditions of closing movement of the knuckle the lock did notalways drop into the lock position. During knuckle closure the priorguard arm lock guide structure was in the path of movement of the lockso as to tend to cause the lock to return to a lock-set position. Thisis objectionable because of the failure to achieve proper couplingbetween railway vehicles on which the couplers are mounted.

By the present invention it is proposed to provide an improved lockguiding means which overcomes the difwhich at least a section of thelength thereof is inclined at an acute angle relative to thelongitudinal axis of the coupler housing. The inclined guide section islocated to assure uninterrupted movement of the lock from the release tolock positions under all conditions of knuckle operation.

Further features of the invention will be readily apparent from thefollowing drawing, specification and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational viewtoward the knuckle side partially in section of a coupler embodying thelock guiding structure of the present invention with the lock shown inthe locked position.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view in section of the coupler housinglooking from the knuckle side toward the guard arm side showing the locklocated intermediate the release and lock positions in full lines andlocated in the lock position in phantom lines.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the coupler housing with the knuckle, knucklethrower and lock removed to show the relative position of the lock guidestructure of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings,there is shown a coupler l incorporating the improved lock guidingstructure ll of the present invention. The coupler includes a couplerhousing 12 having a knuckle side 13 and a guard arm side 14. A knuckle15 is pivotally mounted on the knuckle side 13 for movement between anopen and closed position. A knuckle thrower 16 is supported in thehousing 12 and co-acts with the knuckle 15 in the conventional manner.Supported on the exterior of the housing for actuation by an uncouplingrod (not shown) is a locklift assembly 17 having a trunnion 18 which isreceived in an elongated and inclined toggle slot 19 provided in a leg21 of a lock 22.

The lock 22 is of standard construction and is located in a lock chamber23. The lock 22 includes the usual fulcrum 24, thrower seat 26, lock setseat 27, rear guide 28 and rear wall 29 having a lower chamfered face31.

The knuckle side of the lock chamber 23 includes a lock guide 32depending downwardly from the housing 12. The guiding surface 33 on theknuckle side lock guide 32 is engageable with the rear guide 28 on thelock 22 to guide the latter for movement between the release and lockpositions.

In the lock position, the thrower seat 26 rests upon a lock seat leg 34of the knuckle thrower 16 with the fulcrum resting against the lockingface as shown in FIG. 1. Heretofore, while guide means have beenprovided along the guard arm side of the coupler housing, theconstruction has been such that the lock set seat 27 has a tendency tohang-up on the lock seat leg 34 of the knuckle thrower 16. This resultsin a minimum partial engagement of the lock locking face and the knucklelocking face whereby a positive lock of the knuckle against opening isnot achieved.

In accordance with the present invention the improved lock guide 11 onthe guard arm side is formed to prevent the above described condition.To this end, the guard arm side lock guide 11 extends between thelongitudinal axis 35 and the exterior wall of the housing 12 and isconstructed with an inclined guiding surface 36 which is engageable withthe chamfered face 31 on the lock as the rear guide 28 slides along theknuckle side lock guide 32. The inclined guiding surface 36 merges withan upstanding surface 37 which may be normal to the longitudinal axis ofthe coupler housing 12. The inclined surface 36 is inclined at angle arelative to a line perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 35 sufficientto retain the lock set seat 27 out of engagement with the knuckle leglock seat 34 during down ward movement of the lock 22 to its lockedposition. The angle of incline a may vary from 18 to 45 and ispreferably 24. In this manner the movement of the lock 22 from therelease to lock positions is accomplished smoothly without encounteringhang-ups or the like. In the lock position, the upstanding orperpendicular surface 37 engages the rear wall 29.

It should be understood that the arrangement described above constitutesthe preferred embodiment and that many adaptations and modifications maybe made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a coupler for a railway vehicle including a coupler housing havinga knuckle side and a guard arm side, a knuckle mounted on said knuckleside for movement between a closed position and an open position, a lockchamber, a lock movable in said lock chamber between a release positionreleasing said knuckle for movement to said open position and a lockposition locking said knuckle in said closed position, and lock guidemeans for guiding said lock from said release position to said lockposition as said knuckle moves to said closed position, the improvementcomprising lock guide on said guard arm side including a lock guidesurface having a first guiding surface section contiguous to a secondguiding surface section extending substantially normal to and from thelongitudinal axis of said housing, said first guiding surface sectionextending from and inclined at an acute angle relative to said firstguiding surface section to assure unimpeded locking movement as saidlock moves from said release position to said lock position.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said acute angle rangesbetween about 18 and 45.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said acute angle issubstantially 24.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said first guidingsurface terminates at the interior wall of said lock chamber.

5. In a coupler for a railway vehicle including a coupler housing havinga knuckle side and a guard arm side, a knuckle mounted on said knuckleside for movement between a closed position and an open position, a lockchamber, a lock movable in said chamber be tween a release positionreleasing said knuckle for movement to said open position and a lockposition locking said knuckle in said closed position, and lock guidemeans for guiding said look from said release position to said lockposition as said knuckle moves to said closed position, the improvementcomprising a lock guide on said guard arm side, said lock guideincluding a lock guiding surface at the rear of said chamber extendingbetween the longitudinal axis of said housing and the exterior of saidlock chamber, said lock guiding surface having at least a length thereofinclined at an angle relative to a line perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of said housing to assure unimpeded movement betweensaid release position and said lock position.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein said length of surface isinclined at an acute angle varying between about 18 and 45.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein said length of surface isinclined at about 24.

8. In a coupler for a railway vehicle including a coupler housing havinga knuckle side and a guard arm side, a knuckle mounted on said knuckleside for move ment between a closed position and an open position, asaid knuckle thrower having a leg lock seat, a lock chamber, a lockmovable in said chamber between a release position releasing saidknuckle for movement to said open position and a lock position lockingsaid knuckle in said closed position, said lock having a lock set seat,lock guide means on said knuckle side for guiding said lock from saidrelease position to said lock position as said knuckle moves to saidclosed position, a lock guide on said guard arm side, said lock guideincluding a lock guiding surface at the rear of said chamber extendingfrom the longitudinal axis of said housing, said lock having a chamferedsurface engagable with said lock guiding surface, at least one of saidlock guiding surface and said chamfered surface having a length andinclined at an angle relative to a line perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of said housing so that said chamfered surface andsaid lock guide are in sliding engagement at a location resulting insaid lock set seat being maintained out of engagement with said knucklethrower leg lock seat so that said lock has unimpeded movement betweensaid release position and said lock position.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,850,311 Dated November 26, 1974 Inventor g Horst Thomas Kaufhold It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the Claims:

In Column 3, Line 3, change "first? to --second--.

Signed and sealed this 29th day of April 1975.

(SEAL) Attest:

C. MARSHALL DANN RUTH C. MASON Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officerand Trademarks FORM P0405) (1069) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 I Q .5. GOVERNMENTPRINTING oFFlCE I '9.9 3$6 334

1. In a coupler for a railway vehicle including a coupler housing havinga knuckle side and a guard arm side, a knuckle mounted on said knuckleside for movement between a closed position and an open position, a lockchamber, a lock movable in said lock chamber between a release positionreleasing said knuckle for movement to said open position and a lockposition locking said knuckle in said closed position, and lock guidemeans for guiding said lock from said release position to said lockposition as said knuckle moves to said closed position, the improvementcomprising lock guide on said guard arm side including a lock guidesurface having a first guiding surface section contiguous to a secondguiding surface section extending substantially normal to and from thelongitudinal axis of said housing, said first guiding surface sectionextending from and inclined at an acute angle relative to said firstguiding surface section to assure unimpeded locking movement as saidlock moves from said release position to said lock position.
 2. Theinvention as defined in claim 1 wherein said acute angle ranges betweenabout 18* and 45*.
 3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein saidacute angle is substantially 24*.
 4. The invention as defined in claim 1wherein said first guiding surface terminates at the interior wall ofsaid lock chamber.
 5. In a coupler for a railway vehicle including acoupler housing having a knuckle side and a Guard arm side, a knucklemounted on said knuckle side for movement between a closed position andan open position, a lock chamber, a lock movable in said chamber betweena release position releasing said knuckle for movement to said openposition and a lock position locking said knuckle in said closedposition, and lock guide means for guiding said lock from said releaseposition to said lock position as said knuckle moves to said closedposition, the improvement comprising a lock guide on said guard armside, said lock guide including a lock guiding surface at the rear ofsaid chamber extending between the longitudinal axis of said housing andthe exterior of said lock chamber, said lock guiding surface having atleast a length thereof inclined at an angle relative to a lineperpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said housing to assureunimpeded movement between said release position and said lock position.6. The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein said length of surface isinclined at an acute angle varying between about 18* and 45*.
 7. Theinvention as defined in claim 6 wherein said length of surface isinclined at about 24*.
 8. In a coupler for a railway vehicle including acoupler housing having a knuckle side and a guard arm side, a knucklemounted on said knuckle side for movement between a closed position andan open position, a said knuckle thrower having a leg lock seat, a lockchamber, a lock movable in said chamber between a release positionreleasing said knuckle for movement to said open position and a lockposition locking said knuckle in said closed position, said lock havinga lock set seat, lock guide means on said knuckle side for guiding saidlock from said release position to said lock position as said knucklemoves to said closed position, a lock guide on said guard arm side, saidlock guide including a lock guiding surface at the rear of said chamberextending from the longitudinal axis of said housing, said lock having achamfered surface engagable with said lock guiding surface, at least oneof said lock guiding surface and said chamfered surface having a lengthand inclined at an angle relative to a line perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of said housing so that said chamfered surface andsaid lock guide are in sliding engagement at a location resulting insaid lock set seat being maintained out of engagement with said knucklethrower leg lock seat so that said lock has unimpeded movement betweensaid release position and said lock position.